[Mithadan]

Mithadan leaped aside as the foremost guard brought his sword around in a slashing attack. The blade ripped through his cloak and grated against his mail shirt. Bringing up his own sword, Mithadan parried the guard's second blow, forcing his opponent's blade to the side and swung his blade back up, tearing through the Numenorean's throat. The second guard leaped forward, then stumbled and fell, with one of Piosenniel's throwing knives protruding from his right eye.

"Free the remaining Hobbits!" gasped Mithadan. "I fear for Khelek. We must return down the tunnel!"

Kali emerged from the cell, holding Daisy in his arms. She looked from Piosenniel to Mithadan to the bodies lying on the floor and burst into tears. "At last!" she cried. "I began to think you'd never come!"

"We would not leave you here, little one," said the Elf as she struggled to unlock the remaining cells. Other Hobbits emerged from their prisons. One was elderly and frail. Daisy and Kali assisted her towards the tunnel, ignoring her questions and her fearful glances at the slain guards. "Wait!" said Piosenniel. "Mithadan and I will lead. Then follow quickly."

They retreated back down the tunnel, pausing briefly to glance down the Locks Entrance which led back to the surface. Seeing no one, they proceeded toward the alcove where they found Khelek still standing guard before the door to the Men's Locks. "I heard fighting," he said. "Are you all well?"

"As well as we can be," answered Mithadan. "Guards must have entered through the side tunnel leading to the surface and they assailed us. I am glad to see you whole Khelek, for we feared that you had been overcome."

"Nay," he replied. "I did not even see them."

Mithadan lifted the keyring and looked to the door to the Men's area. Then he sheathed his sword and began grappling with the desk which stood in the alcove. Khelek joined him and they pushed the desk into the tunnel, blocking it. Mithadan took a bag of dragonsfire from his belt and handed it to Khelek.

"If guards come down the tunnel from the Locks Entrance, set the desk afire," said the Man. "I will enter the Men's Locks with Piosenniel. Keep the Hobbits with you for now. If we do not return in five minutes, use your dragonsfire and retreat to the Perimeter Tunnel with your charges." He nodded, pulling a tinderbox from his satchel.

Mithadan approached the alcove door, refusing to think about the possible consequences of his actions. Trying one key after another, he unlocked the door and swung it open quietly. The second guard from the alcove sat snoring on a chair less than ten feet away. He entered silently, followed by Piosenniel. The guard stirred and opened his eyes which grew wide with shock. Before he could cry out Mithadan's sword sliced into his chest. The guard gurgled and moaned, fumbling for a knife, then collapsed back onto his seat.

Mithadan wiped his blade on the guard's cloak and entered the Locks. There was a corridor with cells on either side before him. Although there were at least ten cells, only three were occupied. Mithadan winced as he beheld the condition of their occupants. Two of the cages held three Men each, bearded and emaciated. The third held a Man in better condition who watched the rescuers silently.

A man in tattered rags stood and approached the bars. "So you have come to kill more of us," he said scornfully. "We are such a danger to your King?"

Mithadan looked at the Man for a moment. Though worn and beaten down, he held himself straight and tall. His eyes were grey and his dirty hair may have been raven black. "Isilmir?" asked Mithadan. Piosenniel looked at Mithadan in confusion.

The man took a deep breath, but held his head high. "So you have come for me?" he asked.

"Aye," answered Mithadan as he fumbled through the keys. "And all your fellows as well. We have come to take you from this place and give you your freedom." The gate swung open and the three exited slowly. Mithadan handed the one called Isilmir a knife as he stepped into the tunnel.

"What wonder is this?" cried the Numenorean as Mithadan moved to the second cell and freed the next group of prisoners.

"Treason I'll warrant!" cried the single Man in the third cell with a loud voice. "A plot of the Faithful. Guards!"

Piosenniel stepped forward and drew a throwing knife. The blade flew straight and true and caught the Man in the throat. But down the corridor, they heard running steps.

"Quickly," cried Mithadan as he and Piosenniel moved the Men through the alcove door. Even as the last exited, a guard came down the corridor armed with a cudgel. Mithadan slew him quickly, then threw the chair holding the guard they had slain earlier to the ground. A second guard ran down the corridor and was met with one of Mithadan's throwing knives. He fell writhing to the floor. They could hear no further noise from the Men's Locks.

Mithadan motioned Piosenniel through the door, then, using two small bags of dragonsfire, set the chair and the straw in one of the cells aflame.

Mithadan joined Piosenniel, Khelek and the prisoners in the Locks Tunnel. The wrestled the desk farther into the corridor so that it stood between the alcove and the way back down to the caverns and set it afire as well. Then they began their retreat.

"Isilmir?" whispered Piosenniel to her husband. "My ancestor aboard Elendil's ships had been imprisoned until just before the island was overthrown by the waters," he answered. "He never told how he escaped; it was a secret he took to his grave or so it is told in my family. His name was Isilmir."

Piosenniel nearly staggered at this. "So if you did not rescue the Men..." Mithadan did not answer, but instead shuddered at the thought.

-----------------------

Child's Post:

Nitir and Pearl had worked swiftly and quietly with group after group. They found their task enormously satisfying. They had watched as the elderly, the infirm, and the youngsters all made their way to the safety of the ships. Mithadan's air bladders and the small rafts woven by the hobbrim had enabled many to reach their goal who could not otherwise have done so. As soon as the main cavern was secure, the more general exodus of able bodied hobbits would begin.
Only a handful of children remained at the mouth of the tunnel waiting for safe escort down the river. But, just as the hobbits were starting the final group into the tunnel, something happened which no one had anticipated. Milo came racing down to Nitir. Azra was with him. She'd stripped off her skirts to reveal a sword and leggings underneath.

Gasping for breath, she leaned against Nitir's shoulder and blurted out, "The battle for the caverns is still going on. But some of the guards broke loose and headed toward the mouth of the tunnel. We've got children trapped there. About six of the older ones. Hobbits are trying to rescue them, but we need help."

"How many guards?" Nitir asked, her heart pounding furiously.

Azra shook her head. "It's hard to say. You can't see much. But I'd say at least eight."

Eight guards, thought Nitir. That was no small thing. "Go ahead, both of you, get back to the children, and start harrying the Men. I'll get the hobbrim to come up the tunnel and help.

Nitir turned and sprinted back to the water, where Andril was waiting. Within a moment of telling her story, five hobbrim had raced onto land and were running up the passageway, with lances in hand.

The children were penned in at the mouth of the tunnel, the Men completely surrounding them. Several hobbits attempting to assault the guards were armed only with swords and sharpened vizers. They swiftly darted in and out, striking blows. They had managed to divert the Men's attention from the children, but couldn't bring the guards down for a mortal blow.

Andril cried out, "Go in with the lances, the lances and the bows. Hobbits clear out." Six hobbits scattered to the corners.

Andril ran in and drew back her arm to hurl her lance forward, as she had done so many times when hunting the great fish of the sea. Then as now, her weapon found its mark. A guard was pinned against the ground, a lance pierced through his side. Blood flowed out onto the floor of the cavern.

The remaining guards raced forward against the hobbrim. Four other lances instantly shot through the air. Each was quick to find its target. Those hobbits armed with swords and other smaller weapons sprinted in to finish off the victims lying on the ground. Still, three guards remained.

Nitir strung her bow and cocked an arrow. It sped through the air and buried itself in the shoulder of a guard. He staggered about to retreat up the cavern, but was met by hobbrim who had now retrieved their lances.

Nitir pulled Andril over. "The rest can take care of the few guards who are left. Go in and get the children, and take them down the tunnel. I know they can swim. Just keep an eye on them in the water."

She nodded her head, "But where are you going?"

"We're missing children, four small children." Nitir explained. "I know exactly who they are, and I have a good idea where they went to. I've got to get outside and find them."

She started heading to the left, planning on inching her way along the wall of the main cavern until she came to the graveyard exit. But, before she could leave, Azra ran up to her. "I'm coming. It's Gamba's brood, isn't it?"

Nitir shook her head yes, but then bellowed, "Azra, stay here. I think I can make it back in time, but I'm not sure. It only takes one to go haul in lost children."

"And what do you think you'll find out there? A welcoming party? You could run into anything! Stop talking, and start moving. We're going together."

Nitir muttered something indiscernible under her breath. Out loud, she only said, "Stay close then. It's pitch black in here."

The two women felt their way in the dark towards the graveyard exit. Once they reached the passage, they had to crawl along the ground. The smoke and fumes were making it impossible to breath. There were only a few Elves still fighting in this area. They paid scant attention to the two small hobbits.

Nitir wondered if she should tell someone where she was going. But then, she didn't really know, and who could she tell? Anyways, it might be better if they said nothing. She and Azra were doing this by their own free choice. No use to endanger others by having them come search for her. Hopefully, they'd make it back. But there was no way she'd board the ship without trying to find the children. Gamba had seen enough misery for a lifetime. She pushed back the little voice in her head which whispered that it wasn't only Gamba who had feelings for these boys.

There was still a single torch burning at the entrance to the graveyards. Nitir grabbed it in her hand and brought it along. The two women ran into the field of death looking for any hint that the children had been there. It was then that Nitir spied the imprint of a shovel which was being dragged erratically on the ground in the direction of the horse pens. They quickly moved in that direction.

[ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]